Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-23

built an almshouse, seminary or school of
learning; it never raised the fallen, never
succored the oppressed, never carried glass
of water to parched lips. Ethical culture-a
perfect farce! The Orient had become the
rallying centre of vice and treachery, when
the study of ethics had there reached its very
acme. Greece was filed with philosophers
and teachers of morality when her civilization
had reached grand height, and her iniquity
almost surpassed conception. Does ancient
Rome differ? The pure thoughts of Seneca
are marvellous when we consider the undis-
guised depravity Of the whole empire, and the
prominent position of the most learned stoics
in the very centre of the putrid stream.
Lucian in plain words describes the state of
things i'll the Nigrinus when he exclaims:
Let him who loves riches and admires gold
who seeks earthly happiness in purple and in
might who, reared among parasites and
slaves, has never had a conception of freedom
irankncSs and truth who devoteS himself to
pleasure, full tables, drinking-bouts harlotry,
sorcery, lies and frauds-let him go to Rome.
And yet ethical culture was proclaimed and
lauded everywhere by Roman philosophers
and statesmen from the Forum and platform.
Had they no games? Yes, games in abund-
ance; they were the school Qhe club in which
young men were tutored. Was not the effect
propitlous? Certainly; they had strong mus
cles and good wit, but-mark you-morally
they were weak, rotten, dead. And had they
no theatre? Yes, there their pulpit stood;
their actors preached sermons, and were at
the same time foremost in the ranks of every
conceivable vice. The trouble was natural.
ltcouldnot have been otherwise. The stream
never rises higher than its source nor ethical
culture than the mind of man. On the other
hand, 1 believe in christian ethics 1t is the
lever that has raised the world morality, and
is doing so to-day. But this science is not the
product of the human mind; it has emanatcd
from the study of Gods word, from the proper
Interpretation of the true principles of chris
tianity.
The most plausible argument that can be
Offered in favor Of dancing is one relating to
social benefit, since it happens that so many
married couples can say-"we caught on at
picnic, ball or fair" Very WISE vet passing
strange! And thanks for the important in
formation. Wcnow have substantial ground
to account for the many wretched families
that fill our country and that is the reason,
too, why some Of our courts can hardly find
sufficient time to consider all the divorce
cases, whose number has become legion. A
wrctched system of catching ON !" Surely,
this ambling motion is the charming grace
which has assembled from the sulphurous pit.
Carodray says Of it:
As apOthecaries cover their pills with some
l,etn, I
SO the devil, under the pleasure and sport of
dances, makes men to swallow lustful desires;
and if they proceed to no greater iniquity, yet
this is mortal wound to the soul, accurscd
in the sight of God.
And o, the culture that is derived from this
pleasurab!e entertainment! Is it not ethical?
Such thing we must certainly take into
consideration. Hear what q newspaper cor
respondent writes on the subject:
1 have seen a negro boy of seven years old,
without the first elements of an education,
dance With graceSand agility of motion that
would put to blush the brightest star of q
fashionable ballroom. The most accom-
plished dancers Of the world are untutored
savages who practice in u state of nudity
around their camp fires. What special in
centive, then, can Il cultivated, refined, intel
lectual youth have to waste his precious time
in an amusement in which, after all, he NAV
be surpassed by rude Hottentot or even by
an ape?
But now about cards. How can we arm
the deienceiess youth against the dissipation
of worthless gambling life, is a problem well
worthy of consideration Is it by instructing
the young how to handle deck of cards and
billiard cue, and then carefully warning them
against the dread intemperance to which they
fat no
Intoxicating cup to the lips Of his innocent
boy, and thus try to show him the great dam
age there is in drinking too much? Will he
hold him over the terrible precipice and push
him to the very edge to teach him the danger
Of falling? No, unless he were very devil
incarnate. Nor will a sensible mother take
her daughter into the rampant hells of shame
ful crime to provide her with strong defense
against their temptations. Sooner will she
put the deadly Upas-branch into the hands of
her sucking babe, and kill it outright while
yctinnocent. The whole principle is contrary
to reason. Mr.. Phillips did not go south to
liberate the negro slaves, nor does the minister
of the gospel rush into the bottomless pit to
save souls therefrom.
st. Augustine mentions friend, Alpius by
name, who, having resolved never to look
upon fencers' prizes, was on one occasion,
through thcimportunity of his friends drawn
to the theatre where these bloody sports were
performed, protesting, however, that he would
keep his eyes shut all the while, and never
once look upon them. Suddenly the people
raised great shout in applause of the per-
formance, and he looked to see what was the
matter That very moment he became an
other man; his hatred for the sport was
changed into an unconquerable liking for it.
As long as a man has 4 human nature about
him the trend of his course will be downward.
You cannot change the leopard's spots nor
mans afliliation with evil, eXcepty you remove
the degrading germ, sin.
The safest plan of all is at the very begin
ming to eschew all games orapparently harm
less indulgencies that are connected with dam
ger Moderate indulgence even does not pro-
vide one with the strongest character. 1t is
far easier to stay a rock on the mountain top
than stop it while rushing down the declivity.
Selfnegation and downright refusal are the
only shield of purity. No man or woman
ever went to the theatre or played at these
worthless games whose conscience was not
somewhere indelibly blotted-if there was
anything like a conscience. The sprightly
bird that springs and flutters about the dusty